KDS gives full access to one-way fares
Online access to one-way fares is available through KDS Corporate, the Paris-based IT company said this week.
It said that with this booking tool travellers could reserve their trips in two steps, first booking the outward journey and then the return.
KDS said that corporates, faced with changing airline fares, "have struggled to find suitable fares and information on availability."
Fred-Jan Loembe KDS product marketing manager, said: "We are among the first to actually provide our clients with the possibility to choose between train, low-cost and traditional airlines, and now with one-way fares we are giving travel managers the possibility to list even more choices."
'Online yield increased by e-Travel technology'
e-Travel, Amadeus' e-commerce division, has claimed that airlines using its software have had an 8% rise on online yield.
It said that an analysis of eight carriers using the e-Merchandise package which displays and promotes fares online showed the yield increase had resulted in a 30% rise in online revenue resulting from the improved yield.
This represented the sale of an extra €100m of tickets.
The airlines involved were Air France, bmi, Finnair, Iberia, Icelandair, Luxair, Qantas, and Wideroe.
Hilton sells more hotels
Hilton International sold two more of its UK properties following the sales of 15 hotels last month for £383.4m.
The two latest to be disposed of are the Hilton Edinburgh Hotel, sold to The Managed Unit House Trust for v£14.8m, and the Hilton London Mews Hotel, sold to Capedell Ltd. for £9m.
Hilton has also signed an agreement with a company called Quintain to sell the Wembley Plaza in north London for £10m.
Hilton will continue to manage these properties.
Quintain also plans to build another hotel at the new Wembley Stadium which Hilton will manage.
KLM cuts surcharge
KLM is to reduce its fuel surcharge from December 21 by £1 per flight within Europe and by £3 per intercontinental flight.
De Vere profits up
The De Vere Group reported a 41.6% rise in pre-tax profits for the year ending September 25 of £59m compared with £41.6m for the same period in 2004.
It said its hotels earnings before tax were £34.6m, a rise on 7.8% and earnings before tax for its Village Hotels were up 11.7% to £23.6m
Carl Leaver, ceo, said that following the successful sale of The Belfry in Warwickshire, the group would consider selling further properties although it was not part of the main strategy.
The aim was to grow both the hotel brand and the Village brand where there were eight properties in the pipeline.
Eurostar promotes Davies to international sales
High speed train operator Eurostar has appointed Michael Davies to its new head of international sales and Jason Geall as its head of UL business sales.
Mr Davies has worked at Eurostar since 1994 and previously held the post of ssenior business account manager where he was responsible for Eurostar's relationship with travel management companies.
Mr Geall joins the train operator from www.jobsite.co.uk where he held the post of national sales manager.
Gulf appoints Croft as sales manager
Gulf Air has appointed Richard Croft as its new sales manager offline for Europe.
Mr Croft previously worked for Qatar Airways for more than two years in a similar role.
In his new post, he will be responsible for the management of commercial activity in European countries where Gulf flies to.